Total Cycle Research Articles

Decision-Making Model for Life Cycle Management of Aircraft Components

This paper presents a novel decision-making framework for the life cycle management of aircraft components, integrating advanced data analytics, artificial intelligence, and predictive maintenance strategies. The proposed model addresses the challenges of balancing safety, reliability, and cost-effectiveness in aircraft maintenance. By using real-time health monitoring systems, failure probability models, and economic analysis, the framework enables more informed and dynamic maintenance strategies. The model incorporates a comprehensive approach that combines reliability assessment, economic analysis, and continuous re-evaluation to optimize maintenance, replacement, and life extension decisions. The optimization method on the base of genetic algorithm (GA) is employed to minimize total life cycle costs while maintaining component reliability within acceptable thresholds. The framework’s effectiveness is demonstrated through case studies on three distinct aircraft components: mechanical, avionics, and engine. These studies showcase the model’s versatility in handling different failure patterns and maintenance requirements. This study introduces a data-driven decision-making framework for optimizing the life cycle management of aircraft components, focusing on reliability, cost-effectiveness, and safety. To achieve optimal maintenance scheduling and resource allocation, a GA is employed, allowing for an effective exploration of complex solution spaces and enabling dynamic decision-making based on real-time data inputs. The GA-based optimization approach minimizes total life cycle costs while maintaining component reliability, with the framework’s effectiveness demonstrated through case studies on key aircraft components. Key findings from the case study demonstrate significant cost reductions through optimization, with mechanical components showing a 10% more reduction in total life cycle costs, avionics components achieving a 14% more cost reduction, and engine components demonstrating a 7% more decrease in total costs. The research also presents an optimized dynamic maintenance schedule that adapts to real-time component health data, extending component lifespans and reducing unexpected failures. The framework effectively addresses key industry challenges such as no fault found events while minimizing unexpected failures and enhancing the overall reliability and safety of aircraft maintenance practices. Sensitivity analysis further demonstrates the model’s robustness, showing stable performance under varying failure rates, maintenance costs, and degradation rates. The study contributes a scalable approach to predictive maintenance, balancing safety, cost, and resource allocation in dynamic operational environments.

IMMU-18. IL-7 MEDIATED UPREGULATION OF VLA-4 INCREASES ACCUMULATION OF ADOPTIVELY TRANSFERRED T LYMPHOCYTES IN MURINE GLIOMA

Abstract We have previously described the development of a novel brain bi-specific T cell engager (BRiTE) targeting EGFRvIII in Glioma. Despite BRiTEs impressive potency, efficacy in solid tumors is dependent on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). We evaluated if peripheral adoptive lymphocyte transfer (ALT) increases TILs in immunocompetent mice, even during glioma-induced sequestration. C57/Bl6 mice were implanted with 3 x 10^4 cells syngeneic glioma (CT-2AvIII) and treated with 1 x 10^7 IV CD45.1+ ALT on Day 15. The brain was divided into tumor and non-tumor bearing hemispheres and analyzed each day for exogenous (CD45.1+) CD3/4/8 counts. We observed that IL-7-expanded ALT accumulated at a higher rate within tumor versus IL-2 ALT (72-hours IL-7 median 26.66x vs IL-2 median 4.291x, p=0.0159*). Exogenous T cell entry into tumor-bearing CNS overwhelmingly consisted of CD8+ T cells, and CD45.1+ IL-7 ALT cells made up ~20% of the CD3+ population in tumor 72-hours following administration (mean 19.4%, SD ±4.53%, n=5). Survival experiments used combination ALT and anti-4-1BB therapy in the same model. Mice were treated with IV ALT on Day 5, along with 200µg of IP anti-4-1BB. IP mAb Injections were given every 3 days for 4 total cycles (D5, D8, D11 & D14). Evaluation at these time points was selected as this correlated with peak sequestration of immune cells as evidenced by splenic involution. For survival studies, only combination ALT and anti-4-1BB produced significantly increased survival benefit in our CT-2AvIII model compared to ALT alone (median survival 45.5 days for combination versus 25 days in ALT only group, p=0.0134, chi-square test). These findings demonstrate the feasibility of combination ALT/antibody-based therapy in pre-clinical glioma, as well as outlining a novel approach for delivering both immune cells and antibody-based immunotherapy. Combination therapy with BRiTE and ALT will be explored in an upcoming clinical trial (NCT04903795).

Productivity and costs of a tracked excavator-based processor at the cable yarder landing in the North-western Italian Alps

ABSTRACT Excavator-based processors are a valuable machine to process trees at cable yarder landings. This paper contributes to the studies on productivity and time consumption of excavator-based processors at a landing in the North-western Italian Alps. The study analyzed the time consumption and productivity of an excavator-based processor in a spruce forest, focusing on operational factors influencing processing time and employing statistical modeling. Results showed that processing (21%) and stacking (19%) accounted for a significant portion of the total cycle time (254.2 s), with delays (48%) dominating due to waiting times for incoming loads. Regression analysis revealed that tree diameter, height, and number of logs significantly influenced cycle time. Productivity (25.7 m3 PMH−1) increased with tree volume, although larger trees required longer cycle times. Obtaining two logs per tree, when the tree volume increased by 0.1 m3, productivity increased by about 2.5 m3 PMH−1, while when obtaining five logs per tree, the increment in productivity for the same increase in tree volume was about 1.6 m3 PMH−1. Overall, the study demonstrates the feasibility and efficiency of using excavator-based processors in forest operations in the Northwestern Italian Alps. The findings provide valuable insights into operational dynamics and economic considerations, highlighting the potential of this equipment as a cost-effective alternative.

Bionomics of Earhead Bug Leptocorisa acuta Thunberg (Coreidae: Hemiptera) Infesting Rice

Biology of rice earhead bug, Leptocorisa acuta (Thunberg) carried out at Laboratory of Department of Entomology, N. M. College of Agriculture, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat on rice (Gujarat Rice-11) during kharif-2023. Eggs were dark brown with an average length and breadth of 1.28±0.05 mm and 0.85±0.06 mm, respectively. The incubation period varied from 5 to 7 days with an average of 6.07±0.78 days and the average hatching percentage was 81.22±14.93 per cent. There were five nymphal instars in the life cycle of L. acuta. The average developmental periods of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth nymphal instars were 2.80±0.41, 1.67±0.55, 1.87±0.57, 2.83±0.53 and 4.23±0.63 days, respectively. The total nymphal period was an average of 13.77±0.86 days. The total developmental period (egg + nymph) was found to be an average of 19.83±1.39 days. The average adult period was 23.50±7.69 days. The average pre-oviposition, oviposition and post-oviposition periods lasted for 4.87±1.50, 9.03±3.36 and 15.63±3.20 days, respectively. The average longevity for male and female adults lasted for 17.47±2.83 and 29.53±3.91 days, respectively. The female laid an average of 53.96±31.90 eggs. The total life cycle from egg to adult was an average of 42.67±7.38 days.

Biological performance of Bollgard II® Bt-resistant vs susceptible population of pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) on non-toxic diet

BackgroundThe pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders), is a devastating global pest of cotton that has caused substantial economic damage to Bt Bollgard-II® cotton plants in recent years due to the evolution of Bt resistance. The associated fitness cost is assumed to be one of the factors delaying the development of resistance against Bt transgenic crops. Hence, the present study was undertaken to assess the biological performance of pink bollworms by comparing the life history and demographic parameters of a resistant (Field-R) and susceptible (Lab-S) population.ResultsProlonged larval duration (23.40 days in Field-R vs 18.80 days in Lab-S population), total life cycle (male = 50.00 vs 42.80 days; female = 53.60 vs 46.20 days), reduced fecundity (100.60 vs 154.20 eggs/female) and fertility (88.00 vs 138.00 fertile eggs/female) was observed. The demographic parameters indicated a significant reduction in the net reproductive rate (184.27 vs 276.72), innate capacity for increase in number (0.11 vs 0.15), finite rate of increase in number (1.12 vs 1.16 female progenies produced/female/day), weekly multiplication rate (2.16 vs 2.86), potential fecundity (545.06 vs 634.11 eggs), number of hypothetical F2 females (33 955.65 vs 76 572.41), but longer mean length of generation (47.54 vs 37.74 days) and population doubling time (6.30 vs 4.62 days) in Field-R compared with Lab-S population. A stage-specific life table demonstrated the differences in survival rates between susceptible and resistant populations at various life stages, with the resistant population having higher generation mortality (0.22 vs 0.19).ConclusionsThe study confirms the involvement of fitness costs associated with Bt resistance in P. gossypiella. Despite reduced reproductive fitness, the resistant population tried prolonging the larval stage as a compensatory mechanism to repair the damaged host tissues due to Bt intoxication and for accumulation of enough nutrient reserves for normal pupation and adult emergence. Presence of a high proportion of double Bt-resistant larvae in the field coupled with continued noncompliance with refug planting certainly favours the flaring up of this monophagous pest despite the observed fitness costs. The resistance cannot be effectively reversed unless suitable alternative management strategies are deployed.

Optimum carbon tax rate for emission targets of electricity generation system by life cycle techno-economic-environmental optimization model

Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from the electricity sector is of special interest for decarbonization of energy systems. Optimum carbon tax as a powerful policy tool is here studied by integrated techno-economic-environmental life cycle analysis in a unit commitment problem. The present model is formulated as a bi-level optimization problem to reach the optimum carbon tax rates for different emission targets. The total life cycle CO2 emissions are estimated to be 20333.90 tons/hr in a real case study of Iran's electricity sector for the peak demand hour. The carbon tax rate for a 2% and a 3% emissions reduction is equal to 15.87 and 24.65 $/ton, respectively. In the business-as-usual scenario, higher carbon taxes will be required each year to meet the same emission target. However, developing the electricity sector with cleaner technologies and strategic plans may decrease the carbon tax rate. The extent of this reduction depends on the type of development program implemented in the green revolution scenario. Therefore, policy makers play a direct role in ensuring the sustainable development of the electricity sector. The present model provides a robust framework to analyze the real carbon tax rates for the whole life cycle of electricity generation dispatch.

On turning maneuverability in self-propelled burst-and-coast swimming

Fish have evolved remarkable underwater turning maneuverability, primarily under active control. This allows them to execute turns within confined spaces, such as during C-start rapid turning. In our study, conducted through computational fluid dynamics simulations of a self-propelled swimmer, we revealed that burst-and-coast swimming patterns can generate various turning behaviors purely through passive fluid–body interactions. The burst-and-coast swimming is characterized by the alternating tail movements between continuous undulating burst phases (bp) and non-undulating or gliding coast phases (cp). Through extensive systematic three-dimensional (3D) simulations, we found that both the burst-and-coast duty cycle—the ratio of burst duration to the total cycle duration—and the swimmer's undulation frequency inhibit turning maneuverability, which is quantified by the curvature of swimming trajectories. We also found there is an optimal Reynolds number that maximizes turning maneuverability. Further analysis suggests that the turning maneuverability is probably due to the persistent presence of the Wagner effect during burst phases and the Magnus effect during coast phases, which differs from the mechanism of actively generating lateral forces by asymmetric continuous flapping. These insights not only advance our understanding of fish locomotion control mechanisms but also provide guidelines for designing underwater robots with improved navigational capabilities.

Non-invasive assessment of left ventricular hemodynamic forces in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Abstract Background Hemodynamic force (HDF) analysis allows non-invasive measurement of intraventricular pressure gradients, portraying cyclic spatial-temporal interaction between blood and tissues. Impaired HDFs have been implicated in early detecting of adverse cardiac remodelling and treatment response in various cardiovascular disorders, providing insights into cardiac physiology not offered by traditional cardiovascular imaging (1). Mainly explored in heart failure, HDF analysis has not been previously applied to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Purpose To investigate differences in systo-diastolic function in HCM patients compared to healthy controls using HDF analysis. Methods Forty patients with HCM diagnosis (20 obstructive and 20 non-obstructive) were retrospectively evaluated in comparison with 22 healthy controls. Left ventricular (LV) HDFs were derived from routine transthoracic apical 4-, 2- and 3-chamber views using a dedicated software. Apical-basal HDF curves were generated, where positive deflections represent forces directed from the LV apex to the base, whilst negative ones are directed toward the apex. Amplitude and timing parameters were derived, the latter indexed to total cardiac cycle duration. Results Table 1 shows the demographic, clinical and echocardiographic characteristics of HCM compared to controls. Patients with HCM were older, had a slower heart rate due to treatment with beta-blockers, and showed hypercontractility, as expressed by higher LV ejection fraction. Compared to controls, HCM patients showed reduced LV longitudinal force, i.e. the force during the whole cardiac cycle (4.17% [2.36-5.52] vs. 6.01% [4.73-7.78], p=0.002), shorter time interval to systolic peak (0.15 [0.12-0.16] vs. 0.19 [0.17-0.20], p <0.001), and shorter duration of LV impulse (0.29 [0.27-0.32] vs. 0.34 [0.32-0.37], p <0.001) (Figure 1). However, no differences in terms of systolic force peak (p=0.283) or LV impulse intensity (p=0.689) were detected. During the transition between systole and diastole, LV suction (i.e. the interval including late systolic deceleration and early diastolic suction) was significantly longer (0.26 [0.22-0.29] vs. 0.23 [0.21-0.25], p=0.023) but less pronounced (6.30% [4.56-8.44] vs. 8.72% [6.71-12.59], p=0.005), likely reflecting a relaxation impairment from the very beginning of diastole. Such impairment was maintained during early diastolic filling, where the amplitude of the positive deceleration flow force was severely reduced in HCM compared to controls (2.98% [1.98-4.58] vs. 7.11% [4.55-8.72], p <0.001). Conclusions HDF analysis in HCM patients revealed unique systolic and diastolic changes reflecting faster LV contraction during systole and slower and weaker LV forces during diastole. This analysis deepens our understanding of HCM mechanic abnormalities and may help assess response to innovative treatment options.

Cycling of labile and recalcitrant carboxyl-rich alicyclic molecules and carbohydrates in Baffin Bay

Marine dissolved organic matter (DOM) is an important, actively cycling carbon reservoir (662 GtC). However, the chemical structure and cycling of DOM within rapidly warming, polar environments remains largely unconstrained. Previous studies have shown rapid surface cycling of carbohydrates as biologically-labile DOM (LDOM). Conversely, carboxyl-rich alicyclic molecules (CRAM) are often used as examples of biologically-recalcitrant DOM (RDOM). Traditional DOM isolation methods (e.g., ultrafiltration (10–30% of DOM) and solid-phase extraction (40–60% of DOM) induce chemical-, size- and compositional-bias – complicating inferences to total DOM cycling. Here, we use a total DOM proton (1H) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy method to show carbohydrates and CRAM have high concentrations in the surface ocean and low concentrations at depth in Baffin Bay. Between 21–43% of surface CRAM is removed at depth. These results suggest both CRAM and carbohydrates are major LDOM constituents – contradicting the existing CRAM cycling paradigm and further constraining the long-term persistence of deep ocean DOM.

Phase II Trial of Gemcitabine and nab-Paclitaxel for Recurrent Osteosarcoma with Serial Monitoring Using Liquid Biopsy: A Report from the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation.

The combination of gemcitabine and docetaxel is often used to treat patients with recurrent osteosarcoma. Nab-paclitaxel has preclinical activity against osteosarcoma and is potentially less myelosuppressive than docetaxel. We conducted a prospective multi-institutional phase II trial combining gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel for patients 12-30 years with recurrent osteosarcoma and measurable disease. A Simon's two-stage design was used to test a 4-month progression-free survival (PFS-4) of 10% vs. 35%. Patients received nab-paclitaxel 125 mg/m2 and gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 weekly x 3 in 4-week cycles. Immunohistochemical analysis of archival tissue and serial assessment of circulating tumor cells (CTC) and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) using ultralow passage whole-genome sequencing were performed to identify potential biomarkers of response. Eighteen patients received 56 total cycles (median 2, range 1 - 12). Two patients (11%) experienced confirmed partial response, and 6 (33%) received > 2 cycles. The PFS-4 was 28% (95% CI 13-59%). Six patients required dose reductions and three patients were removed due to toxicities. All 18 patients had detectable CTCs, and 10 had ctDNA identified. All 8 patients with MYC amplification at study-entry experienced disease progression. Gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel demonstrated similar clinical activity and toxicity compared to previous retrospective reports utilizing gemcitabine and docetaxel in patients with recurrent osteosarcoma. Serial analysis of CTC and ctDNA was feasible in this prospective multi-institution study and provides preliminary data on the use of these assays in patients with relapsed disease.

An environmental cost-benefit analysis of organic and non-organic sheep farming in Iceland

This paper presents an environmental cost-benefit analysis (CBA) comparing organic and non-organic sheep farming in Iceland over three decades. Environmental life cycle costing (ELCC) is the basis for the aggregate cost framework, encompassing costs for investment, operations, maintenance, and environmental externalities. Greenhouse gas emissions are included as an external cost as they relate to the monetization of damages to society. Net present value (NPV) and benefit-cost ratio (BCR) indicators reveal both systems as unprofitable over thirty years with and without subsidies. Depending on the discount rate, the organic farm's BCR ranges from 0.26 to 0.38, with a NPV between (-2.4) and (-1.1) million euros. The non-organic farm's BCR ranges from 0.12 to 0.19, with NPV between (-8.6) and (-3.7) million euros. Greenhouse gas emission costs constitute 28% and 33% of total life cycle costs for organic and non-organic farms. Across three discount rates, the LCC and ELCC per kilogram of organic lamb ranged between €13.78 – 25.27 and €18.23 – 37.07, respectively. The LCC and ELCC per kilogram of non-organic lamb ranged between €9.75 – 18.05 and €13.80 – 28.82, respectively. Due to a shortened value chain, organic sheep farming demonstrated revenue advantages as compared to non-organic. The external cost of greenhouse gas emissions from sheep farming forms a significant portion of lifetime costs suggesting that policymakers could incentivize organic practices aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Finally, this study provides a deeper understanding of the long-term economic prospectivity of sheep farming under different production approaches.

Joint estimation of SOH and RUL for lithium batteries based on variable frequency and model integration

The safe and stable operation of lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles is crucial. Aiming at the problems of a large workload of online estimation and prediction and inability to weigh the whole life cycle of the battery in the joint estimation of SOH (State of Health) and RUL (Remaining Useful Life) for traditional lithium-ion batteries, this paper proposes an optimization scheme for the joint analysis of SOH-RUL. First, the article extracts suitable health features. It utilizes an integrated Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) to estimate the SOH of the battery and inputs the estimates into a Regression Vector Machine (RVM) model for RUL prediction. To better cope with the phenomenon of "sudden capacity change" in batteries, this paper divides the entire life cycle into the early and late stages. A lower estimation frequency and model integration are employed in the early stage.In contrast, the estimation frequency and model integration are increased later to balance speed and safety in total life cycle estimation. Finally, validation was performed on the NASA and CALCE datasets, comparing the effect of constant estimated frequency and model integration with that of varying estimated frequency and model integration at different aging stages. The RMSE of SOH estimation error for both datasets is within 2% during the early and late stages, and the SOH estimation error for the entire lifecycle is within 2%. The absolute RUL prediction error for the NASA dataset is below five times; for the CALCE dataset, it is below 20 times in most cases.

PRODUKTIVITAS ALAT EXCAVATOR VIBRO HAMMER UNTUK PEMANCANGAN SSP REUSE PADA PROYEK RENTANG IRRIGATION MODERNIZATION PROJECT DI KABUPATEN MAJALENGKA

Rentang Dam is currently implementing a project, namely the Rentang Irrigation ModernizationProject (RIMP), which aims to restore irrigation functions, stabilize soil conditions, and alsooptimize water distribution. One of the projects that is being implemented as an effort to stabilize thecondition of the land is the installation of SSP Reuse piling. In the erection of SSP Reuse, the heavyequipment used was a vibro hammer excavator. From the erection of the SSP Reuse erection usinga vibro hammer excavator, its productivity can be seen. In this study, we review the productivity ofa vibro hammer excavator tool for erecting SSP Reuse on the right side of the CP. 168 – CP. 170110 meters long. The erection of the SSP Reuse is a follow-up effort to ensure that landslides do notoccur and access to residents' houses is wide. The productivity of the vibro hammer excavator forerecting SSP Reuse with a working day of 30 days per 8 hours, the average point obtained per dayis 9.17 sticks. Meanwhile, for the cycle time on day 1 at 13 SSP Reuse points with dimensions of 8 x0.4 m with vibration via a vibro hammer, the total cycle time was 200.71 minutes and the averagecycle was 15.44 minutes. Finally, the average cycle time of the vibro hammer piling tool taken during30 days of work had a cycle time of 11.33 minutes per rod.

Comparative assessment of global warming potential of gasoline, battery, and hybrid vehicles in India

This study reports a comparative analysis of life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG, CO2-eq.) emissions of three fuel-type vehicles, viz. internal combustion engine (ICEVs), battery electric (BEVs), and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), from an Indian perspective. Vehicles in hatchback and compact sports utility vehicles (SUVs) categories were analyzed. GHG emissions in fuel life cycle (well-to-tank and tank-to-wheel) and vehicle life cycle were estimated using data from websites of OEMs and ministries of Government of India, and the GREET software. The vehicle life cycle constitutes a smaller fraction (15–20 %) of total life cycle GHG emissions for ICEVs and HEVs compared to BEVs (∼35 %). The vehicle cycle emissions of BEVs are higher than ICEV and HEV in both categories (52–63 % for hatchback and approx. 45 % for compact SUV). The fuel cycle emissions of BEVs are smaller than ICEV and HEV in both categories (29–34 % for hatchback and 32–40 % for compact SUV). The total life cycle GHG emissions of BEVs were lower than ICEV and HEV (15–17 % in hatchback and 17–25 % in compact SUV category) for the 2023 energy mix in India with a significant share of thermal route. With anticipated doubling of renewable energy sources in India by 2030, the total life cycle GHG emission of BEV will decrease by approximately 20 %. However, sensitivity analysis revealed that BEVs produce higher GHG emissions than ICEVs and HEVs until a minimum lifetime travel distance. Thermal power plant efficiency and battery lifespan also influence BEVs lifetime GHG emissions.

Valorization of food waste into hydrogen energy through supercritical water gasification: Generation potential and techno-econo-environmental feasibility assessment

Food waste (FW) is a significant portion of the solid waste produced by cities, and it has become a global problem due to the poor management of food distribution and consumption. The improper disposal of FW in landfills precipitates pervasive global environmental predicamentsHowever, effective management strategies have the potential to convert this large amount of garbage into a very effective renewable energy source, particularly through the generation of environmentally friendly hydrogen. This study examines the capacity for energy generation and the practicality of hydrogen production in Bangladesh using supercritical water gasification technology. The findings indicate that approximately 489 MW of electricity can be extracted from approximately 23 million tons (Mt) of FW in 2023, with a projected escalation to around 2042 MW by 2042, coinciding with an anticipated surge in FW generation to approximately 110 Mt. Moreover, the study delves into the economic feasibility of these gasification endeavors, employing diverse metrics encompassing total life cycle cost, net present value, investment payback duration, levelized cost of energy, and internal rate of return. Technoeconomic analyses divulge an investment with a net present value of 11,669.4 M$M$, an 11-year payback period, and an internal rate of return of 14 %. In addition, the research assesses the technological, economic, and environmental viability inherent in the establishment of gasification-based electricity-generating facilities in Bangladesh's preeminent eight cities by 2023. This examination postulates that a transition from coal-based power plants to those powered by food waste would precipitate an annual reduction of 3.59 Mt in carbon dioxide emissions.

Achieving Electron Capture Dissociation in the Radio Frequency Linear Ion Trap without the Assistance of a Magnetic Field─A Simulation Study.

It is extremely difficult to inject a low-energy electron beam into a conventional radiofrequency (RF) linear ion trap for electron capture dissociation (ECD) without using a magnetic field to focus the electrons. In this study, the dynamic process of electrons in an RF field during their injection and transmission through a linear ion trap was simulated to determine the range of the RF phase where the electrons can be decelerated to meet the energy requirement for ECD. The ECD time window was expanded by applying a time-dependent compensation voltage to the cathode. The relationship between the cathode voltage and the phase of the RF voltage was determined. The ECD time window was increased to 49.4% of the total RF cycle after applying a compensation voltage. Between the phases of RF voltage of 0 and 0.975 π, at least 98.7% of electrons can be injected into the ECD reaction zone, and 94% of them had an energy less than 3 eV. The range of electron energy can also easily be shifted upward to enable hot electron capture dissociation.

Upfront or delayed surgery in resectable hepatoblastoma: analysis from the children’s hepatic tumors international collaboration database

In the treatment of resectable hepatoblastoma (HB), it has not been established whether upfront surgery (UF) at diagnosis or neoadjuvant chemotherapy and delayed surgery (DL) is preferred. We compared patients with localized HB who underwent either UF, or DL after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the Children's Hepatic tumors International Collaboration (CHIC) database of 1605 cases enrolled in eight multicenter hepatoblastoma trials between 1988 and2010. Among the 512 resectable HB patients who had PRETEXT (PRETreament EXTent of disease) I or II unruptured tumors at diagnosis without extrahepatic invasion, distant metastases, or massive vascular invasion, 172 underwent UF and 340 underwent DL. The primary outcomes were event-free and overall survivals after start of treatment in these two groups. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Maier analysis with long-rank tests and multivariable Cox regression models. Complete resection rates were comparable (93.6% in UF and 89.7% in DL). The total cycles of chemotherapy of DL (median:6) were significantly more than those of UF (median:4) (P<0.01). The 5-year event-free survival (EFS) was 90.6% and 86.6% (P=0.89) in the UF and DL cohorts, respectively. The surgical complications, recurrence rates, and late complications were not significantly different between the cohorts but the EFS rates of DL patients with a low alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level (100-999ng/mL) or older age at diagnosis (≥3 years old) were significantly worse than others. The outcomes, surgical resectability, and complications were not significantly different between the UF and DL groups. Eligible patients with a low AFP level (<1000ng/mL) or older age (≥3 years old) showed better outcomes in the UF group and might be considered for initial resection. European Network for Cancer Research in Children and Adolescents, funded through the Framework Program 7 of the European Commission; Children's Oncology Group Cure Search grant contributed by the Hepatoblastoma Foundation; Practical Research for Innovative Cancer Control and Project Promoting Clinical Trials for Development of New Drugs and Medical Devices, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development; Japan Society for the Promotion of Science; and Swiss Cancer Research grant.

A comparative life cycle assessment of fifth-generation district heating and cooling systems

With the growing global demand for cooling, there is a critical need for sustainable solutions that efficiently provide both heating and cooling. Fifth-generation district heating and cooling (5GDHC) systems present a promising option, integrating renewable energy and enabling energy sharing. Despite their potential, the environmental performance of 5GDHC systems has not been comprehensively studied until now. This study addresses this critical gap by conducting the first comprehensive cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment of 5GDHC systems, uniquely incorporating hybrid environmental flow coefficients. This approach significantly enhances the coverage and accuracy of the analysis compared to traditional assessment methods. Using the University of Melbourne’s proposed Fishermans Bend campus as a case study, we compare different 5GDHC configurations with a state-of-the-art traditional system. Our findings reveal that 5GDHC systems can reduce total life cycle GHG emissions by up to 52%, particularly when suitable heat sources and sinks are available. This study underscores the importance of considering life cycle impacts in the early planning stages of energy systems, positioning 5GDHC as a viable solution for the energy transition.

An Innovative Vision-Guided Feeding System for Robotic Picking of Different-Shaped Industrial Components Randomly Arranged

Within an industrial plant, the handling of randomly arranged objects is becoming increasingly popular. The technology industry has introduced ever more powerful devices to the market, but they are often unable to meet the demands of the industry in terms of processing times. Using a multi-component feeder, which facilitates the automatic picking of objects arranged in bulk, is the ideal element to speed up the identification of objects by the vision system. The innovative designed feeder eliminates the dead time of the vision system since the feeder has two working surfaces, thus making the viewing time hidden in relation to the total handling cycle time. In addition, the step feeder integrated into the feeder structure allows for control over the number of objects that fall onto the work surface, optimizing the material flow. The feeder was designed to palletize aluminum hinge fins but can also handle other products with different shapes and sizes. A two-dimensional (2D) vision system is integrated into the robotic cell to identify the components to be palletized, obtaining a reduced cycle time. The innovative feeder is fully adaptable to industrial applications and allows for easy integration into the robotic cell in which it is installed; by testing its operation with different aluminum fins, male and female, significant results were obtained in terms of cycle times ranging from 1.44 s to 1.68 s per piece, with an average productivity level (PL) of 1175 pcs every 30 min.

Highly stable anode-free sodium batteries enabled by mechanically deformable nucleation interface

Anode-free sodium metal batteries (AFNMBs) with zero excess sodium offer superior energy density, lower cell cost, and design practicality for next-generation EVs and other applications. However, reaching consistent high Coulombic efficiency (CE) greater than 99.9 % remains a challenge for this battery architecture. In this study, our findings support that using a soft Li metal interface under a current collector coated with a thin carbon black nucleation layer facilitates extremely stable nucleation and growth of Na metal by locally distributing pressure to mitigate SEI or dead sodium formation. Specifically, our findings demonstrate Na half cells with stable CE of 99.98 % over 500 cycles at 0.5 mA/cm2. Further, zero-excess sodium full cell AFNMBs with Na3V2(PO4)3 cathodes exhibit total first cycle formation loss of only 5.4 % at C/10 rates, which is over two times lower than commercial Li-ion cells, with capacity retention of 97.4 % after 100 cycles at 0.5 mA cm-2 (∼ C/3) and average round-trip charge efficiency of 99.97 %.